Frequência de Giardia duodenalis e Cryptosporidium spp. em fêmeas da raça holandesa durante a fase de recria em um rebanho no Sul do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, durante o outono-inverno de 2008

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of the species of Giardia duodenalis speciesand the genus Cryptosporidium spp. in dairy calves at different ages during the post-weaningphase in a herd located in Boa Esperança, South of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, during the fall-winter season. It were analyzed 254 samples from 37 cows of Holstein breed, aged between threeand 10 months in the period from May to September 2008, collected directly from the rectumevery 30 days. To search cysts or trophozoites of Giardia duodenalis was used the flotation in zincsulfate solution to 33% technique, and for detection of Cryptosporidium was used the Ziehl-Neelsenmodified technique. Of the 254 samples, 37.79% were positive for cysts or trophozoites of Giardiaand 8.93% for Cryptosporidium spp. The comparison of age and positivity to G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium, it was observed that for both parasites, the age between three and four months isthe most affected in the post-weaning phase in cattle. Whereas the post-weaning is a critical pointin the growing cattle, this would indicate the pathogenic potential for these parasites in dairycattle in southern Minas Gerais.